Introduction

There are two main points here.

Firstly, the direct address to ‘Love'. Love is given divine personification here, yet without being quite identified with either Christ or the Holy Spirit. One of the marks of mystical theology is a certain loosening of the tight boundaries of theological definition. For those not used to the traditions of mysticism, for instance, Crashaw's Protestant contemporaries, this could have caused a problem.

Secondly, Crashaw uses the rhetorical device of telling us what he says he is not going to tell us. He says he is not interested in the traditional idea of a martyr, which he then proceeds to spell out. It is a very male picture ‘old soldiers, great and tall', and probably the image you have when the word is mentioned. By contrast, Crashaw is going to tell us of would-be female and child martyrs, where love and softness predominate, rather than bravery and toughness.

Section one

Crashaw's point is clearly made:

'Tis LOVE, not YEARES or LIMBS that can
Make the Martyr, or the man.

The link of love and martyrdom is central to the poem. The infant Teresa's love is as intense as a mature person's. The only difference is that it is intuitive and undifferentiated: ‘though she cannot tell you why'. It is a strange, even disturbing thought for us perhaps, but echoes the biblical passage of Christ with the children (Matthew 19:13-15).

The linking of love and death is similarly intuitive. Crashaw puts Teresa's choices very simply, so that we can see the childlike logic:

teach them (the Moors) how to live
In him (Christ) or ...
For him she'l teach them how to DY.

In a sense, all martyrdom comes down to this simple choice, this either/or.

Investigating Hymn to St Teresa

Look at ll. 15-64 of Hymn to St Teresa

Why are ‘her mother's kisses' insufficient for the young Teresa?

Section two

It is not Teresa's time. ‘Thy fair Spouse' calls her back. Christ's relationship with humanity is described in the Bible, using the metaphor of marriage. Both nuns and mystics have often applied this image to themselves. Christ has ‘a milder MARTYRDOM' for Teresa, in that it does not involve death directly. Instead she will become

Love's victime; and must dy
A death more mysticall and high.

The use of ‘dart' rather than ‘arrow' may contain a reference to Cupid, the god of love. Crashaw has used this term before, in St Mary Magdalene, l.103, where again the Cupid image is very strong.

It is the fire of passion that is suggested; Christ as the ardent, burning lover, where the dart symbolises the force of the passion. Agony and ecstasy become one in a very romantic passage. Crashaw is, though we may not realise it, only echoing the words of St Teresa herself as she describes these mystical experiences.

Investigating Hymn to St Teresa

Look at ll. 65-104 of Hymn to St Teresa

List words that suggest flames and burning

Why is there this emphasis?

Section three

The poet is writing this in the present tense as if he were addressing St Teresa directly. Thus, as he comes to think of her final death, that is put into the future. The tenses produce a certain sort of engagement and intensity not possible with past tenses. At last, he says, the mystical ‘deaths' will finally merge into a real death, where

Thy selfe shall feel thine own full joyes

The language is of ecstatic experience. The passage into death suddenly shifts to a pagan language of ‘The MOON of maiden starrs' awaiting her and making room for her to become, it would seem, a celestial body, as in various Greek myths. It sounds more like the Romantic poet, John Keats's youthful poem Endymion, which is about the moon goddess's love for a mortal.

Section four

This is really a very remarkable passage. English poetry does not abound with descriptions of heaven, even among Christian poets. This bravura piece of writing shows how fully engaged Crashaw's imagination is. He does not falter as he describes Teresa's reception by ‘the KING thy spouse' who then becomes ‘the LAMB thy Lord'. The language of the Book of Revelation is echoed here (Revelation 21:9). She is also welcomed by the angels and by her good deeds which have gone before her. Her former tears and sufferings all transformed into jewels, as are the books she has written. All the souls she has helped find salvation, or who have become members of her order, shall be there as jewels on ‘thy rich zone' (belt). She will become the bride of Christ, a term usually reserved for the Church as a whole (Revelation 21:2). She clearly, for Crashaw, is the number one example for all ‘who in death would live', who ‘must learn in life to dy like thee'.

Investigating Hymn to St Teresa

‘ who in death would live …
Must learn in life to dy like thee'

How should the reader imitate St Teresa?

List all the things from Teresa's past life which will now be part of her triumphant entry in heaven

How does Crashaw convey the sense of final triumph for Teresa?

English Standard Version

King James Version

1Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.2And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.3And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?4He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,5and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?6So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.7They said to him, Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?8He said to them, Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.9And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.10The disciples said to him, If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.11But he said to them, Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.12For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.13Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,14but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.15And he laid his hands on them and went away.16And behold, a man came up to him, saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?17And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.18He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,19Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.20The young man said to him, All these I have kept. What do I still lack?21Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.23And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved?26But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.27Then Peter said in reply, See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?28Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

English Standard Version

King James Version

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.5And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.6And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.7The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.8But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.9Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,11having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.12It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed - 13on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls.16The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.17He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.18The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.19The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.22And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.24By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,25and its gates will never be shut by day - and there will be no night there.26They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

English Standard Version

King James Version

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.5And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.6And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.7The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.8But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.9Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,11having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.12It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed - 13on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls.16The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.17He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.18The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass.19The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.22And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.24By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,25and its gates will never be shut by day - and there will be no night there.26They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Some one who suffers for their beliefs or faith, typically by being killed.

In many religions, the place where God dwells, and to which believers aspire after their death. Sometimes known as Paradise.

A figure of speech where a non-person, for example an animal, the weather, or some inanimate object, is described as if it were a person, being given human qualities.

Title (eventually used as name) given to Jesus, refering to an anointed person set apart for a special task such as a king.

The third person of the Trinity (God in three persons). Came upon the disciples at Pentecost after Jesus had ascended in to heaven.

The study of God.

The seeking of direct spiritual encounter with God, usually through a life of self-denial and contemplation. Mystics often have visions or other supernatural revelations of God.

Christians whose faith and practice stems from the Reformation movement in the sixteenth century which resulted in new churches being created as an alternative to the Roman Catholic Church.

Related to rhetoric; eloquently-expressed, designed to persuade.

Relating to, or contained in, the Bible. The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament scriptures inherited from Judaism, together with the New Testament.

An image or form of comparison where one thing is said actually to be another - e.g. 'fleecy clouds'.

Something which represents something else through an association of ideas.

In English Literature, it denotes a period between 1785-1830, when the previous classical or enlightenment traditions and values were overthrown, and a freer, more individual mode of writing emerged.

Supernatural beings closely linked with the work of God; his messengers, traditionally portrayed as having a winged human form.

In the Bible, salvation is seen as God's commitment to save or rescue his people from sin (and other dangers) and to establish his kingdom.